"Clara Carlyel! "
My head feels faint. I look at Clara pushing past me. My dad snatches her arm. "Asia! Go!" He demanded barely over a whisper. My eyes go big, petrified. "Clara, can't go, not in her condition now go!"
I franticly struggle to get to the gap of the crowd. I could hear my heavy breathing over the silence and terror of the people. When I stumble out into the gap, two peacekeepers lift me up and drag me to the stairs. When they slugged me on the concrete steps I feel a cut open across my knee. From there I trample up the steps where Cyrus grabbed my arm and Snapped it in the air. "Clara Carlyel! District 3's very first female tribute!" He beamed, waiting for an applause that never happened. Dropping my arm, he walks to the other gold bowl.
"And for the males," he announced grabbing the first paper peaking onto,"Emerson Kyldel!" He exclaimed as the unfolded piece of paper drifting onto the asphalt. I couldn't see anything beyond that paper. The sun and lights were to bright. I couldn't see my father and Clara. I couldn't see the pink faces of my home, staring at me. Were they pitying me? Or relieved it wasn't someone they knew. I see a head appear from the light. It was Emerson's. His dusty brown hair in a Rangeled mess. A slight beard defined his cheeks. I look at him, his age was too old.
"Our First Ever District 3 Tributes!" Cyrus shouted, now raising both our arms. I tried seeing into the crowd to see my father, but the light glares wouldn't decease. Suddenly, Cyrus starts pushing me into the station. "Wait!" I scream, "Father! No! Let me see my Dad!" Cyrus huffs annoyed. Leaning towards a guard he tells them to get my father. "Your father should be here in just a moment," he smiled fakely. The doors behind us bammed shut.
"She's right in here," I heard a peacekeeper order. With a few trample of footsteps, I saw my father scramble in. He began hugging me the moment he saw me. I feel the scratch of his beard against my neck and the scent of firewood smoke on his shirt. I embrace him back, knowing this would be the last time I ever saw him. "It'll be okay, you'll be fine without me. Be strong, you're 17, you can do it." He whispers. "Dad, I how am I suppose to kill anyone if I am to afraid to kill a mouse?" I ask trying to get one last look of his face. "Be courageous," he muttered, placing something cold and round in my hand. He was then dragged off by the peacekeepers.
I was almost into tears. I felt the sting of water coming out of my eyes, but nothing ever fell. My stomach felt like a black hole,sucking everything in. I look at Emerson who was watching from afar. Starring. Cyrus finally begins to drag us to the train. We were the first District to leave. 12 would be last. As we walked through the the building to reach the long strip of train. I look down at the object in my fist. It was his ring.